# is mary jane REALLY bad for you? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 11, 2007, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-mary-jane-really-bad-for-you/422293 "2007-10-11T01:31:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2007, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-mary-jane-really-bad-for-you/422293/21 "2007-10-11T15:02:39Z")
[The Straight Dope](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2_225.html) ---
**Author:** ![Wee\_Bairn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/90db22/32.png) [@Wee\_Bairn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wee_Bairn)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2007, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-mary-jane-really-bad-for-you/422293/22 "2007-10-11T15:19:13Z")
[QUOTE=Annie-Xmas] [The Straight Dope](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2_225.html) [/QUOTE] Ah, the typical Cecil Adams column- 500 words of speculation and conjecture, resulting in “uh, we don’t know”- why does he even address a question he can’t provide a real definitive answer to- is marijuana bad for you “maybe, maybe not”. Gee thanks. ---
**Author:** ![sqweels](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f19dbf/32.png) [@sqweels](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sqweels)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2007, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-mary-jane-really-bad-for-you/422293/23 "2007-10-11T15:24:39Z")
Come to think of it, this month marks 30 years since I started smoking pot. I’m still waiting for all the negative effects to start kicking in. ---
**Author:** ![SharkB8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/977dab/32.png) [@SharkB8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SharkB8)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2007, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-mary-jane-really-bad-for-you/422293/24 "2007-10-11T15:32:22Z")
[QUOTE=sqweels] Come to think of it, this month marks 30 years since I started smoking pot. I’m still waiting for all the negative effects to start kicking in. [/QUOTE] I think living in Edina is your negative effect 😉 (I’m originally from Eden Prairie) ---
**Author:** ![dangermom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@dangermom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dangermom)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2007, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-mary-jane-really-bad-for-you/422293/25 "2007-10-11T15:36:00Z")
It may not be physically addictive, but it’s certainly possible to become psychologically dependent on pot. I’ve known people who gave up careers in order to stay with pot. ---
**Author:** ![PatriotX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c4cdca/32.png) [@PatriotX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatriotX)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2007, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-mary-jane-really-bad-for-you/422293/26 "2007-10-11T15:46:00Z")
[QUOTE=sqweels] Come to think of it, this month marks 30 years since I started smoking pot. I’m still waiting for all the negative effects to start kicking in. [/QUOTE] cuz if thats the best info there is, then it’s the answer to teh question. ---
**Author:** ![Kinthalis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kinthalis/32/16084_2.png) [@Kinthalis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kinthalis)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2007, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-mary-jane-really-bad-for-you/422293/27 "2007-10-11T15:54:04Z")
[QUOTE=dangermom] It may not be physically addictive, but it’s certainly possible to become psychologically dependent on pot. I’ve known people who gave up careers in order to stay with pot. [/QUOTE] But’s that’s true for almost ANYTHING depending on the individual. I’ve seen people give up careers/school/financial security for anime, WOW, food, porn, Live action Role-playing, shopping, you name it. Some people just have these type of personalities. I don’t know that pot is any different. So the consensus so far is that smoking pot is probably not GOOD for you, but is not as bad as a smoking/drinking habit, right? ---
**Author:** ![Wee\_Bairn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/90db22/32.png) [@Wee\_Bairn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wee_Bairn)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2007, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-mary-jane-really-bad-for-you/422293/28 "2007-10-11T16:00:36Z")
Actually, per the article I linked to upthread, scientists in that study speculated that something in marijuana may actively prevent lung cancer, so it may be _good_ for you. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![sqweels](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f19dbf/32.png) [@sqweels](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sqweels)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2007, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-mary-jane-really-bad-for-you/422293/29 "2007-10-11T16:18:06Z")
[QUOTE=SharkB8] I think living in Edina is your negative effect 😉 (I’m originally from Eden Prairie) [/QUOTE] Eden Prairie is where my ass is parked this very moment. Right across the street from the Channel 9 station. Uh, what were we talking about, again? ---
**Author:** ![Rucksinator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/898d66/32.png) [@Rucksinator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rucksinator)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2007, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-mary-jane-really-bad-for-you/422293/30 "2007-10-11T23:13:48Z")
[QUOTE=Wee Bairn] As far as the smoke in the lungs goes, I don’t think you can call it bad for you if its true as I have read that there are no cases of a pot only smoker getting lung cancer. [/QUOTE] While my experience is limited, I’m going to say that there’s no such thing as a “pot only smoker”. YMMV ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2007, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-mary-jane-really-bad-for-you/422293/31 "2007-10-11T23:20:54Z")
[QUOTE=Rucksinator] While my experience is limited, I’m going to say that there’s no such thing as a “pot only smoker”. YMMV [/QUOTE] Really? The vast majority of people I know that smoke pot only smoke pot. Which is of course not relevant to the discussion, maybe a thread for IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2007, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-mary-jane-really-bad-for-you/422293/32 "2007-10-11T23:25:42Z")
[QUOTE=Snarky\_Kong] Really? The vast majority of people I know that smoke pot only smoke pot. Which is of course not relevant to the discussion, maybe a thread for IMHO. [/QUOTE] Seconded. If this turns into a ‘gateway drug’ thread it ought to go to IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![Uncertain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Uncertain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncertain)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2007, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-mary-jane-really-bad-for-you/422293/33 "2007-10-11T23:53:37Z")
Yeah, I don’t want that fake happy from heroin or cocaine. I want the _real_ happy that comes only from marijuana. ---
**Author:** ![anson2995](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c77e96/32.png) [@anson2995](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anson2995)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2007, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-mary-jane-really-bad-for-you/422293/34 "2007-10-12T00:48:11Z")
[QUOTE=Whack-a-Mole] The psycho-active ingredient in pot (THC) as drugs go is actually fairly harmless. You get stoned of course but IIRC as far as “poisoning” your body goes it is rather mild. I seem to recall that aspirin is harder on your body. Alcohol certainly is. Pot is also not physically addictive which is a rather large thing in the plus column for it. Ideally there’d be THC pills making all the other stuff a non-issue. [/QUOTE] I’m not sure you can describe THC as “fairly harmeless.” There have been several studies showing a link between THC and schizoprenia, especially among adolescents. A [recent article](http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140673607611623/abstract) in The Lancet described a research study that concluded cannabis users had, on average, a 41% greater risk of developing psychosis than non users. Earlier this year, [another study](http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2007/05/01/marijuana-psychotic.html) linked THC to psychotic episodes in healthy test subjects. A study at Yale yielded similar results. And there are THC pills, marketed under the trade name Marinol in the U.S. ---
**Author:** ![Sticks\_and\_Scones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sticks_and_scones/32/16951_2.png) [@Sticks\_and\_Scones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sticks_and_Scones)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2007, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-mary-jane-really-bad-for-you/422293/35 "2007-10-12T00:53:11Z")
[QUOTE=Flander] Marijuana does horrible things to a person’s grammar skills. Want some Funions? [/QUOTE] Amen Brother/Sister! That post made my skin crawl. ---
**Author:** ![Savannah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b3f665/32.png) [@Savannah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Savannah)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2007, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-mary-jane-really-bad-for-you/422293/36 "2007-10-12T01:49:37Z")
**With pot:** is mary jane REALLY bad for you? i’ve just been wondering how bad pot really is for you. in my opinion its really not so bad, yeah its not the BEST thing for you but hey…its pretty freaking awsum like yea you might have a bit of a problem with the whole memory thing…but shit that happens to people all the time. its awsum when your upset about sumthing absolutely rediculous and pot just makes that go away and its not likea fake happy…cuz your continually happy for the rest of your time…unlike something such as herione or crack where there is an extremely horrible come down[or so i’ve heard, read…i have no personal experience with either of these substances]…so basically wat i’m trying to get it at is…just how bad is marijuana? **Without pot:** Is “Mary Jane” really bad for you? I’ve just been wondering how bad pot really is for you. In my opinion, it’s really not so bad. Yeah, it’s not the best thing for you, but, hey… It’s pretty freaking awesome. Like, yeah, you might have a bit of a problem with the whole memory thing… But, shit, that happens to people all the time. It’s awesome when you’re upset about something absolutely ridiculous, and pot just makes that go away, and it’s not like a “fake” happy, because you’re continually happy for the rest of your time. Unlike something such as heroin or crack, where there is an extremely horrible comedown (or so I’ve heard, read—I have no personal experience with either of these substances). So, basically, what I’m trying to get at is… Just how bad is marijuana? ---
**Author:** ![Wee\_Bairn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/90db22/32.png) [@Wee\_Bairn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wee_Bairn)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2007, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-mary-jane-really-bad-for-you/422293/37 "2007-10-12T13:21:18Z")
[QUOTE=Rucksinator] While my experience is limited, I’m going to say that there’s no such thing as a “pot only smoker”. YMMV [/QUOTE] There’s at least one- me. ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2007, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-mary-jane-really-bad-for-you/422293/38 "2007-10-12T13:33:15Z")
Have you ever scraped the tar, resin, and gunk out of a pipe? Most of that stuff went in your lungs. Is that something you really want? Well, if it’s really good weed, and it’s only once every couple of weeks or so, and you don’t have any respiratory problems, probably not so terribly awful. Yeah, pot is bad, but even if it makes a small fraction of the populace go psychotic (and it may be they already had a genetic tendency), it will never destroy as many lives as alcohol or tobacco. If you’re looking up things to give up in order to be stay healthy and undamaged, your priorities should probably be alcohol, tobacco, red meat, compulsively correcting other people’s grammer, and then finally pot. ---
**Author:** ![Savannah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b3f665/32.png) [@Savannah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Savannah)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2007, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-mary-jane-really-bad-for-you/422293/39 "2007-10-12T14:33:20Z")
[QUOTE=Brain Wreck] If you’re looking up things to give up in order to be stay healthy and undamaged, your priorities should probably be alcohol, tobacco, red meat, compulsively correcting other people’s grammer, and then finally pot. [/QUOTE] But–but–I love alcohol, tobacco, red meat, potato chips, chocolate, caffeine, and correcting other peoples’ grammar. Not smoking pot gives me my only sense of virtue! ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Slant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c57346/32.png) [@Mr.Slant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Slant)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2007, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-mary-jane-really-bad-for-you/422293/40 "2007-10-12T14:38:44Z")
[QUOTE=Revenant Threshold] Actually, compared to some others, she doesn’t seem to bring Spidey _that_ much trouble. [/QUOTE] If I grew up with issues of Spider Man around the house and the Spider Man cartoon on the TV, and JUST NOW, at age 30, while reading this thread, realized that Spider Man’s main squeeze might be a reference to an illegal drug would that make me dense? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-mary-jane-really-bad-for-you/422293.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-mary-jane-really-bad-for-you/422293.md?page=3)